These 3 volumes include both original source material and writings of modern historians. The sources are chosen from many different kinds of material--e.g. chronicles; poems; letters; government records; treatises on science, philosophy and political theory. The readings from modern historians are taken from authors of many different shades of opinion. This edition includes a new chapter on the African orgins of Western Civilization.
A great resource for anyone wanting to read more about European history and thinking since say the 1500s (I swear I didn't just crib the title). Covers a lot of the major issues of the centuries, though it ends around the 1960s. Leaves a lot of breadcrumbs as well for anyone who wishes to read the full documents.
Despite being somewhat outdated -- for example nearly 100 pages is given over to the 'Black Athena' controversy -- this is still a decent collection of curated excerpts from sources both primary and secondary.